Walking beam for oil, gas, and artesian wells



May 20, 1924.

R. R. BLOSS ET AL WALKING BEAM FOR OIL, GAS, AND ARTESIAN WELLS INVENTOR.

. I 1 ATTORNEY.

Filed Jan. 30 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

May 20, 1924. 1,494,768 I R. R. BLOSS ET AL WALKING BEAM FOR OIL, GAS, AND ARTESIAN WELLS Filed Jan. 30 1922 3. Sheets-Sheet 2 O O O o 0 0 ,//9 e- O 9 O o O O Q 33 0 Q Q 34 3km fi m b g;

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, Nl/ENTOR TTORNEY.

May 20 1924.

R. R. BLOSS ET AL GAS AND ARTESIAN WELLS WALKING BEAM FOR OIL,

Filed Jan. 30 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z INVENTOR.

1rr0R/\ EY Patented May 20, 1924.

'umiso's'rAr-ss PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD R. BLOSS AND WILLIAM B. TOBIN, F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNO'RS TO THE INTERNATIONAL DERRICK AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A, CORPORATION OF OHIO. I

WALKING BEAM FOR OIL, GAS, AND ARTESIAN WELLS.

Application filed January 30, 1922. Serial No. 532,842.

To all. whom z't'may concern: relative lengths of these arms. In conjunc- Be it known that we, RICHARD R. BLoss tion with this, we have provided an adand VILLIAM B. YTOBIN, citizens of the justable counter wei ht that makes possible United States of America, residing "at 00- the offsetting of un esirable differences be 6 lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State tween the power arm and the weight arm of Ohio, have invented certain new and ,useor that may be utilized to facilitate the ful Improvements in Walking Beams for handling of the walking-beam during the Oil, Gas, and Artesian \Vells, of which the unliitching of the drilling tools preparatory following is a specification. to removing them from the hole being Our invention relates to walking-beams drilled. 00 for oil, gas and artesianwells. Its aim is v A further object of our invention is the the provision of a structure that will adapt provision of a saddle structure that is not itself readily to any conditions which may only adjustable to facilitate the changing of exist and will be adjustable to meet all the fulcrum and varying the relative lengths 1 changing conditions as the operations proof the power and weight arms of the walkw-GSS ing-beam but that is also provided with In the past, although many forms of walkmeans of connection to the walking-beam of ing-beams have been in practical use, it has such a nature as to make possible the applibeen customary to use either a beam of reccation to such beam of any make of saddle l tangular cross-section or one of a built-up' of typical design. This structure is such as section tapering in area toward the ends. to give any such saddle a double longitudinal The former structure presents the difficulty adjustment or a transverse adjustment with of requiring a maximum weight and size for respect to the walking-beam proper. the proper strength, while the latter, due to A still further feature of our invention 25 its tapered form, inevitably means a greater contemplates the provision of a temper screw 7 cost in manufacture. Furthermore, prior counterweight structure wherein the anchor devices have been lacking in adjustability hook for the temper screw counter weight and even in uniform measurements, so that pulley is made adjustable to correspond with time is necessarily wasted in adjustment to adju men s Of the S d le S r c ur The :0 meet new conditions or repair of parts in result of this is the obviation of too great a case of breakage. ji gling action of this counterweight.

One of the objects of our invention is to 1 1 81 imp r nt features of our walkingreduce the objectionable and unnecessary beam structure will appear as this descripweight in proportion to strength, without a 11 pr gresses. Tl1e preferred embodiment corresponding increase in manufacturing of our invention is shown i i the accompany- 5 st. Thi i li h d by th u f an ing drawings wherein similar characters of I-shaped cross-section of unifcrm area reference designate corresponding parts and throughout the entire length of beam, which h r in 1' provision makes it poss'ble to use standard Figure 1 is a lan View of our walking- 10 structure I-beams. This design results in a beam structure, s iowing the pitman-rod and great decrease in the ratio of weight to temper screw blocks in place, and also showstrength at a much less manufacturing cost ing in dotted lines the T-slot connection for than is possible with any built-up section. securing the saddle to the'saddle plate.

Another object of our invention is the Figure 2 is a side elevation of the struc- 65 provision of an adjustable mechanism of ture shown in Figure 1, and showing the such a character that the walking-beam may method of reenforcing the slotted temper be adjusted to vary the fulcrum thereof screw end of the walking-beam.

without varying either the length of the Figure 3 is a bottom fragmentary plan power arm or the length of the weight arm or view of the walking-beam with the saddle e0 adjustment may be made that will vary the and saddle plate removed.

v 2 and 6 where it is Figure 4 is a detail view of a special eccentrio olt, showing the ofiset position of the sha.

Figure 5 is an end view of the eccentric bolt shown in Figure 4, and illustratin rectangular head and the position of shank thereon.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the struc ture shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the saddle held in extended position'bythe disposition of the bolts with their shoulders centered. v

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section taken through the bolt and slot structure of -our saddle and saddle plate and showing-the position'of our eccentric bolts in the attachment of a saddle whose securin holes are s aced further apart than are t eholesin t e saddle shown in Figure? 1 Figure 8 is a vertical cross section similar to Figure 7 but showing the position of our eccentric bolts in the attachment of a saddle whose securing holes are nearer together than are the holes shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a dia rammatic view of a portion of a crank side elevation of a typical drilling rig illustrating-the fulcrum in one position and showing in dotted lines the the utility of our adjustable counter weight in removing the pitman from the crank galratory to removing the tools from Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the use of our apparatus in drilling a well wherein the distance from the sampson post to the hole being drilled is less than the similar distance under conditions represented by Figure 9 but wherein adjustments have been made to correspondingly shorten the power arm and proportion the balance by movement of counted weight.

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the temper screw supporting structure.

In the drawings, our walking-beam is shown as comprising-a light but very strong single unit and 'so designed in shape that it combines maximum strength with weight. This unit preferably takes the form of a standard wide-flanged Bethlehem I-beam with its ends cut away to suitable form and prethe

braced to ample rigidity and strength.

best shown in Figures 1, designated 1. The right end of this beam 1 is of tapered form, 'while its left end is'also of tapered form. This right end is properly called the temper screw end and the left end is properly called the pitman end. i

The I-beam 1 is formed in the usual manner with a central web and with upper and lower flanges 2 and 3 respectively. The right or temper screw end of this I-beam is cut 0% squarely do-wnwardlyfrom its upp surface to something over one-half its depth as at 4. Then, it is undercut as at 5, form- This I-beam is the" - surface of these ting ends of is riveted manages ing an inclined edge, from the lower end of the vertical edge to the lower flange.

Theend which has been thus cut ofi is provided with a supplemental structure comprising outwardly turned an 16 irons 'havin horizontal legs 6 and 7. See Fig- These angle irons are spaced from each other and have their upper horizontal legs disposed in the same horizontal plane as the flange 2 of the main angle iron, the desirable thing being that the upper horizontal legs shall be in the same plane as the upper surface of the flange 2 of the main I-beam. The vertical leg's'of these angle irons may be designated 8 and 9 and reference to Figure 6 will show that these legs 8 and 9 are sufficiently spaced, to provide a bifurcate structure within and upon which the temper screw structure is supported. Superimposed upon the abut the flange 2 and the horizontal legs 6 and 7 of the angle irons 'just described is a plate 10 that is riveted as at 11 to the flange 2 of the main I-beam and that as at 12 and 13 to the horizontal legs 6 and 7 of the angle irons. This structure preferably serves as a support for a bifurcate block 14 or for other bearing means for temper screw A.

he angle irons having the legs 6, 7, 8 and 9 are braced adjacent their outer ends by means of inclined angle irons immediately exterior to the vertical legs 8 and 9. These bracin angle irons have vertical legs 15 and 16w ich are riveted to the legs 8 and 9 of the horizontally disposed angle irons by rivets 17 and 18. These angle irons extend inwardly toward the lon itudinal center of the I-beam and into straddlin but spaced relation with the undercut we of the same. They are rigidly held in this spaced relation by a plate 19 to which their are riveted and this plate 19 1s inturn riveted to legs 22 and 23. of angle irons whose legs 24 and 25 are in turn riveted to the web ofthe I-beam. The'legs 15 and 16 of the inclined angle irons are cut off as at 26 in Figure 2. It will be apparent that these angle irons serve to resist any downward strains upon the slotted extension and to absolutely prevent any bending or breaking loose of the added structure.

The slotted end structure thus far described provides a means wherebyany down-force on the temper screw is divided into two component forces. One of these components acts along the horizontal upper flange of the main I-beam and the other component along the diagonal bracing angle to the web of the main I-beam, the force in the upper flange appearing as'tension and in the inclined angles as'compression. 4 y

. The opposite or pitman end of the walking-beam is generally designated 27 and is shown undercut to produce a tapered end formation. It is provided with a pitman stirrup bearing or block 281 It is also desirably reinforced in means of angle irons 29, extending from ange to flange as shown in Figure 2.

Adapted to be bolted near the center of the walking-beam and to be supported by the lower flange 3 thereof, we have provided a saddle plate 30 which is shown in cooperation with a saddle 31 of standard make. This saddle plate 30 is provided with a series of equally spaced bolt holes 32, preferably arranged near and on each side of its longitudinal center. It is also provided with T-slots 33 and 34, the shank of each T-slot extending vertically through the base of the saddle plate, as best shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The lower flange 3 of the I-beam 1 is provided with a series of spaced holes 35 intermediate the length of the beam and on each side of the web thereof. Bolts placed in the holes 32 of the saddle plate and'extending through the holes35 of the I-beam will secure this saddle plate to the flange 3 of the I-beam and by means of the plurality of equally spaced holes 35 it will be possible to adjust the saddle plate longi-- tudinally upon the walking beam.

The saddle 31 is preferably of standard construction, being provided with four bolt holes, as at 36 and 37. Theoretically, the centers ofthese bolt holes form the corners of a perfect parallelogram but.in practicethey are usually disposed with relation to each other, sometimes in one direction and sometimes in another. Obviously, this makes it impossible to provide-four fixed bolt holes in the walking-beam for the re- ,ception of the bolts of these standard saddles.

In order that the saddle plate 30 will be adapted to receive a saddle of a standard make, regardless of the normal variation in the distance between hole centers, we have provided eccentric bolts 38, in that the shanks of the bolts are ofiset relative to the centers of the bolt heads which are preferably rectangular in contour. This is best shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to Figures 4,- 5, 6. 7 and 8, it will be noted that the saddle 31 is secured to the saddle plate 30 by means'of these eccentric bolts 38 working in the T-slots 33 and 34 and through the bolt holes 36- and 37; It will be understood that the bolts are removable from their slots when adjustment is desired and it will be noted that they are shown in Figure 6 with their heads so mounted in the slots that their shanks are centered in the slot shanks. Then, by reference to Figure 7, it will beapparent that the bolts have been removed and; replaced so that the bolt shanks are disposed adjacent the outer edge of the slot shanks, whereas in Figure 8 the bolts have been removed and replaced so that the bolt shanks are adjacent the inner edge of the slot shanks. Thus, it will be obvious that these bolts are adjustable to accommodate and facilitate adjustment of any saddle of standard make apparent that three capabilitiesof adjustment are provided. The saddle plate may be adjustedalong the I-beam by means of the bolt holes 35. The saddle may be adjusted along the saddle plate by means of saddle may be adjusted either longitudinally or transversely by removal, partialrotation and replacement of the bolts in their slots.

Referring more particularly to Figures 9 and 10, it will be apparent that our adjustable saddle structure paves the way for other important adjustments. Our novel saddle structure, being adjustable along the beam, makes possible the ready adjustment of the length of the weight arm of the beam to accommodate our structure to rigs wherein the distance to the sampson post to the hole being drilled is different. It is possible in our structure to vary the length of either or both the power arm and the wei ht arm. This adjustment canbe accomplis ed in such a manner as will maintain a fixed relationship between these two lengths; or both may be increased or decreased in different degrees This is illustrated in part by Figures 9 and 10.-

The structure for accomplishing this, in addition to the adjustable saddle, comprises the pitman stirrup 39 which may be adjusted with the pitman bearing block 28. It also comprises counter weight holes 40 and a counter weight 41. The sampson post may be designated 42.

By comparison of Figures 9 and 10, it

will be: seen that the weight arm has been shortened by adjustment of the saddle while the power arm has been correspondingly shortened by adjustment of the pitman stirrup and its bearing block along the walking beam. This, in itself, tends to produce a balanced condition.

However, we have provided the counter weight h0les-40 and the counter weight 41 so that we may obtain practically any reasonable condition of balance desired. The counter weight is preferably so mounted as to produce such a condition of balance that when it is desired to remove the tools from bolts along the T-slots 33 and 34 and the ment of the saddle structure.

the hole, the pitman can be detached from the crank-pin-and moved to the position temper screw structure will hang vertically when the power arm moves to the dotted line position of Figure 9ifor-removal of the tools. It will likewise be apparent that the cutaway natureof the pitman end will facilitate the reception of a wi e range of stirrup lengths. I

A further feature of our invention has to do with the provision of the adjustable hooks 43 which may be placed in any of the holes 4-4 in the upper flange of the I-beam. These hooks 43 support the pulley45 over which run the counter weight ropes 46 which are connected at one end to the temper screw and at the other end to a counter weight 47. The adjustment of these pulley hooks 43 bears a'cooperative relation to the adjust.- It is a desirable thing to maintain the position of these counter weight pulleys as near the fulcrum, as possible, for this diminishes con stant jiggling of the counter weight. It will be obvious that this structure permits of this adjustment and, consequently, large ly obviates this undesirable tendency.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising an I-beam formation with a slotted end.

2. A walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising an I-beam structure with a slotted tapered end.

3. A walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising an I-beam structure with both ends undercut and with one end slotted.

A walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising an I-beam formation, and fabricated to form a temper screw support'on one end thereof adapted to distribute the stressesv to a flange of the I-beam and also to the web thereof.

5. A walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comp-rising an I-b'eam formation and a temper screw support on one end thereof having a substantially triangular form with one leg connected to a flange of the I-beam and another leg connected to the web thereof.

6. A walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising an I-beam formation, and a temper screw sup-port on one end thereof having a structure to directly resist weight stresses by tension upon independently altering member,

weaves the Iii-beam web.

7. A walking-beam structure for oil, gas

and artesian wells comprising an I-beam formation, a temper screw support on one end thereof having a structure to directly resist a flange of the I-beam and compression upon the E-beam web and having-a slot in said support.

and artesianwells com rising means for altering the length of either the ower arm or weight arm of said walking am.

9. Walking beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells com rising means for cam.

10. Walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising a main beam member and a saddle connected thereto in the ppwer arm and weight arm of said walking weight stresses by tension upon 8. Walking-beam structure for oil, gas

t e length of both a manner to permit longitudinal and lat eral adjustment. p

11. Walking beam structure for oil, gas

and artesian wells comprising'a main beam "member,

and a saddle longitudinally and laterally adjustable with relation to said beam.

12. Walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising a main beam and a saddle laterally adjustable withrelation to said beam.

13. alking-beam structure for oil, gas

and artesian wells comprising a main beam, and means for attachin various saddles thereto regardless of variable distances between the holes of said saddle.

14. Walking-beam structure for oil, gas

and artesian wells comprising a main beamv and eccentric bolts adjustable for attachin various saddles with differently spaced ho. es to said beam.

15. Walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising a main beam, a slotted saddle plate, bolts adjustably mounted in the slots of said saddle plate, and a saddle to be secured in place by said bolts.

16. Walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising a main beam, a slotted saddle plate, eccentric bolts adjustably mounted in the slots of said saddle plate, and a sadddle to be secured in place by said bolts.

17. Walkingrbeam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising a main a saddle plate with slots therein, and eccentric saddle-securing bolts whose heads are retained in such slots and removable for rotative adjustment.

18. Walking beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising a main beam, means for varying the lengths of either the power or weight arms, and adjustable beam,

means for the receptioifofa counterweight on said beam.

19. Walking-beam structure for oil, gas and artesian wells comprising a main beam, a temper screw counterweight, an adjustable saddle structure, a pulley for said counterweight, and a support for said pulley adjustable to compensate for adjustments of said saddle.

20. VValking-beam structure for oil, gas

and artesian wells comprising a main beam,

a temper screw counterweight, a pulley and an adjustable support for said pulley.

21. A walking-beam comprising a wideflanged I-beam and a saddle adjustably secured thereto, one end of said walkingbeam being formed with a reenforcing on each side of .its web and extending from flange to flange.

22. A walking-beam comprisin an I- beam, an angle secured to each si e of the web at one end of the I-beam, an extension secured to the other end of the I-beam comprising two angles spaced to form a vertical slot and two angles secured to the I- beam and to said extension angle.

23. A walking-beam comprising a structural-steel body, a saddle plate adjustably connected thereto and a saddle adjustably secured to said saddle plate.

24. A walking-beam comprising an 1- beam, a tem er screw slot, means for reenforcing sai slot and an adjustable means secured to said I-beam for receiving saddles of varying designs.

25. A walking-beam comprising an I- beam, a saddle plate adjustably mounted thereon, and a saddle adapted to be secured to said plate, said plate containing means whereby the saddle may be adjusted to beam structure, a temper screw slot in one end of one flange of said I-beam and an adjustable saddle secured to said I-beam.

29. A walking-beam comprising an I- beam structure, a temper screw slot in one end of one flange of said I-beam, reinforc- I ing means for strengthening said slot, and an adjustable saddle secured to said I-beam.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

RICHARD n. BLOSS. WILLIAM B. TOBIN. 

